TWL Rd 8: Kingz Container Crew Warriors Player Ratings

Some individual bright spots shone through in a messy win over the Dolphins in Wellington.

I was hoping for a more overwhelmingly positive performance to report on for my 200th edition of the Kingz Container Crew player ratings, but maybe that helter skelter display was a more appropriate way to mark the milestone anyway…and a win’s a win.

1 TAINE TUAUPIKI: Staked a genuine claim for the No.1 jersey with a game-high 235 metres from 23 runs, two line-breaks, a whopping 10 tackle-breaks and the match-winning try — as well as a nice hand in a first-half four-pointer. One dropped high ball was the only negative on a night where he was otherwise very safe at the back. 8

2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Largely carried on his strong recent form, scoring a try and keeping his head in defence. But that all went out the window in the last 10 minutes, giving away two penalties and putting his side under immense pressure with a play-the-ball blunder in his own half. Eleven runs for 90 metres. May miss next week suspended. 5.5

3 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Great start with beautiful tip-on for AKP’s first try, ran strongly if a little less than usual (13 carries for 110 metres) and was very solid again defensively. 7

4 ALI LEIATAUA: Made just three runs, but one of them was a magnificent break late in the first half. Nice try assist for Dallin and handled his daunting defensive assignment against Herbie well, before being taken off concussed — which will likely see him miss next week. Frequently puts his tantalising ability on show but needs to get more involved. 5.5

5 ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA: A second straight dazzling first-half double to make it 57 tries in 57 appearances. The second of opposite Isaako’s tries didn’t reflect well on his defensive decision-making, but he was otherwise sound without the ball. Not the strong ball-carrier but was hungry for it, running 16 times for 119 metres. 7

6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Lovely touches in both of AKP’s tries, got plenty of touches, took the kicking pressure off Boyd and racked up 23 tackles. Probably his least impressive of 2026 so far, but more than adequate in his 100-game milestone. 6.5

7 TANAH BOYD: Played a fine hand in a game where not much was clicking around him, compensating by getting his running game going with 105 metres from 11 runs. Had a hand in AKP’s second, long kicking game was good despite having to do most of it from around his own 40, forced a line dropout, had a line-break assist and making some strong stops among 16 tackles. 7.5

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Big captain’s knock, putting in a 59-minute shift after Barnett’s early exit. Churned through 20 runs for 164 metres and 30 tackles, and had a hand in the first try. Error credited to him was from a ill-conceived pass. 7.5

9 WAYDE EGAN: Laid on the match-winner for Tuaupiki (one of two line-break assists) and had a hand in Dallin’s try off the back of the scrum. Made 28 tackles. Solid without shooting the lights out. 6.5

10 JACKSON FORD: So this 80 minutes in the front-row thing is just normal, then? Another herculean effort that may wrangle more Dally M votes in an ugly game, leading all forwards on the field with 21 runs for 206 metres and making a game-high 57 (!) tackles. Gave away a penalty and two set restarts, while a dummy-half snipe on the last was ill-advised…but what a motor. 8

11 LEKA HALASIMA: One of his unhappier NRL appearances, giving away three penalties and making three handling errors, while struggling to make his usual impression on attack (nine runs for 67 metres, zero tackle-breaks). Sensational grab of a bomb to almost score a trademark try, only to come up with a small fumble on the line. Made 33 tackles but had a team-high seven misses. Played the last 15 or so in the centres. 5

12 KURT CAPEWELL: Quiet in the first half but got going a bit after the break and finished with nine runs for 82 metres, along with 33 tackles. Probably did a whole bunch of valuable dirty work that the likes of me didn’t see. 6

13 ERIN CLARK: A barnstorming performance highlighted by two memorable line-breaks, which helped him to a season-high 178 metres from 12 runs. Also made 21 tackles during his 48 minutes on the park. 7.5

14 SAM HEALEY: Came on for the last 14 minutes at dummy-half and helped his side close out a tense one. Six tackles and one run. 5

15 MITCH BARNETT: Got through a power of offensive work before his unscheduled trip to Disneyland, chewing through 14 runs for 116 metres in just 23 minutes. Will inevitably be out next week. 6.5

16 DEMITRIC VAIMAUGA: Held down the middle with authority — making 10 runs for 89 metres and 24 tackles in 34 minutes — but gave away a penalty and popped a dud pass in the latter stages to put the Warriors under unnecessary pressure. 6.5

17 JACOB LABAN: Injected with just over 20 minutes left, making two runs and reeling off 13 tackles. 5